Staff Sparring Demonstration March 10, 2007

Bu Sa Beom Nims Huy Pham and Toan Pham did a demonstration of staff sparring at the Kuk Sool Won Tournament on March 10, 2007.

Photos of the School's Entrance and Interior

We thought these photos would help visitors find our school and get a glimpse of the interior. Please come and see the real thing when we are having a class!

Promotion addendum September 3, 2008

Dan Bo Nim (black belt candidate) Jeff Pridmore received 2 stripes today for two earlier tests that he successfully passed. Total 8! Congratulations!!

(Jo Gyo Nim Elise, Bu Sa Beom Nim Toan Pham, Gyo Sa Nim Ian, Dan Bo Nim Jeff, Jo Gyo Nim Eric, Gyo Sa Nim Suzanne)

2008 Kuk Sool Won World Championship 50th Anniversay Celebration

Click to see the formal announcement for the 2008 Kuk Sool Won World Championship 50th Anniversary Celebration http://www.kuksoolwon.com/2008EntryForm.pdf. This promises to be a very special celebration, because Kuk Sa Nim founded Kuk Sool Won 50 years ago. How many other martial arts have the opportunity to see and to thank in person their founder? Three of four of our instructors are planning to attend and compete in Tomball, Texas! There's commitment for you! Check what forms, techniques, weapon forms, and breaking YOU would have to do if you entered. How would you measure up to the best in the world? If you'd like to enter, please speak with Bu Sa Beom Nim Toan Pham.

Promotion Ceremony August 30, 2008

Congratulations to all promoted students!!

Brown belts: Bill Luong (7 stripes), Seth Windsor (5 stripes);
Blue belt with red stripe: Lorenzo Scott;
Yellow belt with blue stripe: Long Nguyen; Yellow belt: Josh Forgie, William Studios.

Keep working towards the prestigious Black belt in Kuk Sool Won!!

Black belts present: Bu Sa Beom Nim Toan Pham, BSBN Huy Pham, Gyo Sa Nim Ian, Jo Gyo Nim: Elise, Keiko, Adam, Eric, John.

INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHIES

Toan Pham has studied Kuk Sool Won since 1995. There is only 1 higher ranked instructor in all of South Carolina, as well as the East Coast.


Huy Pham has studied Kuk Sool Won since 1995 He has competed in many tournaments and placed. For example, in 2003, he was the Junior Division Grand Champion at the World Kuk Sool Won Tournament. In 2005, he placed first at the Tae Kwon Do Open Tournament in Georgia for Open forms, Weapons and Breaking, plus he finished second in sparring. At the 2005 World Kuk Sool Won Championships, he placed first in Weapons.


Suzanne Miskin has studied martial arts for many years. These include a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, HapKi Do, Judo, and Kuk Sool Won in Tomball, TX (where she had the privledge of studying under KJN Alex Suh.)



Ian Okinaga has been studying Kuk Sool Won since 2002. He was promoted to Gyo Sa Nim, second degree black belt, in the summer of 2008 (see blog for photo).

What is Kuk Sool Won? A brief modern history

Kuk Sool Won, which can be translated as National (Korean) Martial Arts Association, is a systematic study of all of the traditional fighting arts, which together comprise the martial arts history of the Korean nation. As a martial arts system, Kuk Sool Won covers the entire spectrum of the traditional Asian fighting arts and techniques of body conditioning, as well as mental development and tradition weapons training. These include (but are not limited to):

· Hand Striking
1) Closed and open hand striking methods: including palm, fist, wrist, finger striking techniques and specialized hand training techniques.
2) Pressure point striking
3) Striking using arm and shoulder
4) Blocking and parrying

· Leg Techniques
1) Foundational Kicks
2) Spinning kicks
3) Jumping kicks
4) Combination kicks and double leg kicks
5) Pressure point kicking
6) Specialty kicks

· Throwing and Grappling
1) Body throws
2) Projection throws
3) Leg throws
4) Pressure point grappling
5) Grappling defense
6) Wrestling techniques
7) Ground fighting

· Joint-Locking Techniques
1) Restraining methods
2) Joint breaking techniques
3) Combination joint-locking
4) Control and redirection techniques
5) Arresting and “come along” techniques

· Falling Techniques and Acrobatics
1) Body conditioning and agility techniques
2) Body protection techniques
3) Acrobatics for defense and offense

• Body Conditioning
1) Overall stretching and flexibility training.
2) Cardiovascular conditioning.
3) Muscle training.
4) Ligament and tendon strengthening.
5) Joint Flexibility and conditioning.

• Animal-Style Techniques
Techniques based on the movements and/or characteristics of certain “martial” animals such as Tiger, Preying Mantis, Crane, Dragon, Snake, etc.

• Traditional Korean Weapons
1) Sword: short, middle, and long, single or double, straight or inverted.
2) Staff: short, middle and long, single or double
3) Jool bong.
4) Spear.
5) Cane.
6) Rope.
7) Fan.
There are 24 different traditional Korean Royal Court weapons in the curriculum of Kuk Sool Won (plus Buddhist and family weaponry).

• Martial Arts Healing Methods (beginning at Instructor Level)
1) Acupressure.
2) Acupuncture.
3) Internal energy systems.
4) Herbal medicine

• Meditation and Breathing Techniques
1) Various breath control techniques.
2) Meditation and breathing postures.
3) Concentration techniques.

As you can see, Kuk Sool Won covers an extensive variety of techniques and martial arts methods, but it is not merely concerned with the physical methods of attack and defense. Kuk Sool Won includes the study of healing techniques, the development of internal power, and physical conditioning. Training in Kuk Sool Won also helps to instill self-confidence and self-discipline, a calm self-assurance, and the psychological and spiritual values which are traditionally associated with the martial character. Mental and physical well-being is of primary importance in Kuk Sool Won.

Although Kuk Sool Won as it is practiced today is relatively new, its roots stretch far and deep to the very beginnings of the history of the Korean people. As students of Kuk Sool Won, this early history and the ancient traditions upon which our art is founded should be as important to us a s the physical techniques themselves, for it is only from our understanding and appreciation of these classical roots that we are able to grow as students and as martial artists.
(For a more depth study of the origin of Kuk Sool Won see Kuk Sool Won Textbook Vol. І.)